Solution Consultant

Morningstar, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 74,325 - 109,008; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% 401k match up to 6% of salary

Comprehensive health benefits

Trust-Based Time Off

Paid Sabbatical Program

Charitable Matching Gifts program

Job summary

Morningstar, Inc. is looking for a Solution Consultant in Chicago to support clients across North America. This role involves pre-sales solution design and hands-on implementation, managing the client journey from initial discovery through successful onboarding.

The ideal candidate has experience in the financial services industry, strong communication skills, and will work closely with various teams to ensure clients derive value from Morningstar’s offerings. Comprehensive health benefits and a competitive salary range of $74,325 to $109,008 are offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial services or the investment industry.
• Proven experience in a client-facing role across sales, pre-sales, implementation, or service.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with both technical and business audiences.

Responsibilities

• Engage prospective clients and understand their business processes.
• Lead discovery sessions and conduct needs analysis.
• Own end-to-end implementation from contract signature through onboarding.

Skills

Client-facing experience

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial services knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or CFA

Tools

Data platforms

APIs

Cloud technologies

Agile methodologies

Job description

The Group

The Data, Research & Index Products group is the home of manufacturing and innovation at Morningstar. The individuals in this group transform our high-quality data, independent research, and technological expertise into well-designed products that delight our clients. The group's product management, product development, operations and service teams collaborate to help create and provide our clients with the relevant solutions to appropriately meet our client's business needs.

The Licensed Data Product Operations team, which is part of the group, aims to bring consistency in methods of working and provides better transparency and governance to operational processes. The team partners broadly and deeply with many internal teams (for example, product management, technology and client service). These partnerships are critical to driving the desired outcomes not only for our existing products, but also as it pertains to assisting in driving our new product development initiatives.

The Role

Morningstar is seeking a Solution Consultant to join our Direct Platform team, supporting clients across North America. This role combines pre-sales solution design with hands‑on implementation, owning the client journey from initial discovery through successful onboarding and value realization.

As a Solution Consultant, you will act as a trusted advisor—understanding client business needs, designing scalable solutions, and ensuring those solutions are effectively delivered and adopted. You will work cross‑functionally with Sales, Client Service, Product, and Technology teams to bring Morningstar's capabilities to life in a way that is impactful for clients and sustainable for the business.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Solution Design

• Partner with Sales to engage prospective clients and understand their business processes, goals, and challenges.
• Lead discovery sessions and conduct needs analysis to identify opportunities where Morningstar solutions can deliver value.
• Develop and deliver product demonstrations, presentations, and proposals.
• Translate client needs into clear business, functional, and technical requirements.

Implementation & Delivery

• Own end‑to‑end implementation from contract signature through onboarding and go‑live.
• Manage project scope, timelines, risks, and dependencies.
• Facilitate decision‑making across stakeholders, balancing trade‑offs to deliver optimal solutions.
• Break down requirements into structured deliverables (e.g., user stories, acceptance criteria) and collaborate with Technology teams.
• Lead client trainings, technical sessions, and onboarding activities.
• Ensure successful integration, adoption, and formal client sign‑off.

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Proactively manage opportunities and priorities in support of clients and Sales teams.
• Serve as the primary point of contact throughout the client lifecycle.
• Maintain clear, consistent communication on project status, milestones, and risks.
• Ensure a smooth transition to Client Services following implementation.

Continuous Improvement & Feedback

• Capture client and market feedback during discovery and delivery.
• Partner with Product Management to inform enhancements and roadmap priorities.
• Stay current on industry trends and evolving client needs.

Requirements

• Experience in financial services or the investment industry.
• Proven experience in a client‑facing role across sales, pre‑sales, implementation, or service.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with both technical and business audiences.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with Sales, Product, and Technology teams.
• Highly motivated, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or CFA is a plus.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with Morningstar enterprise products and capabilities.
• Experience with data platforms, APIs, or cloud and AI technologies (e.g., Snowflake, AWS, Claude, Copilot).
• Exposure to Agile methodologies.
• Basic programming or data analysis skills (e.g., Python, R).

Compensation and Benefits

• Financial Health
  • 100% 401k match up to 6% of salary
• Stock Ownership Potential
  • Company provided life insurance – 1x salary + commission
• Physical Health
  • Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company‑provided HSA contributions (up to $500–$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
  • Additional medical wellness incentives – up to $300–$600 annually
  • Company‑provided long‑ and short‑term disability insurance
• Emotional Health
  • Trust‑Based Time Off
  • 6‑week Paid Sabbatical Program
  • 6‑week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
  • Competitive 8‑24 Week Paid Parental Leave
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
  • Annual Flex Stipend – $1,000 annually to cover personal education & well‑being expenses
  • Tuition Reimbursement
• Social Health
  • Charitable Matching Gifts program
  • Dollars for Doers volunteer program
  • Paid volunteering days
  • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Total Cash Compensation Range

$74,325.00-109,008.33

Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in‑person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in‑office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.